NFL Draft 2017: 5 Best Prospects in Big Ten Championship Game

Taking a look at the five best 2017 NFL Draft prospects on Penn State and Wisconsin ahead of the Big Ten Championship Game.

The 2016 Big Ten Championship Game includes the East Division champion Penn State Nittany Lions and the West Division champion Wisconsin Badgers. The game has a varying number of prospects for the 2017 NFL Draft, making the game a must-watch for fans of the April event.

This game features a potential first-round pick on the Wisconsin offensive line and a few mid-round projected players. And those are the players who ended up helping NFL rosters turn into championship contenders.

The Nittany Lions have players like running back Saquon Barkley, but being a sophomore, he’s still not eligible for the draft until next year. Wisconsin has more prospects who should be selected in one of the three days of next April’s NFL Draft, including offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk, who will no doubt be a game-changer in the Big Ten Championship Game.

NFL Draft fans should enjoy this game, and who knows, maybe all of us will spot a diamond in the rough who will break out to raise his draft projection during this game.

Nov 5, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Kevin Givens (30) reacts with teammates linebacker Brandon Bell (11) and defensive tackle Robert Windsor (54) following his sack of Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback C.J. Beathard (not pictured) during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Iowa 41-14. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

5. Brandon Bell, OLB — Penn State

When healthy this season, Brandon Bell has been a very important member of the Penn State defense. He may not be the most gifted or highest graded outside linebacker prospect in this draft, but he has become a difference maker for the Nittany Lions.

He may be drafted late on Day 3 of the 2017 NFL Draft, but the 6-1, 233-pound Bell has made a case to maybe make NFL teams take a second look at him during the draft process and playing on the national stage won’t hurt matters much if he has a standout game.

As a draft class this year, Penn State has just one player who is projected to be a third- to fourth-round pick. Bell can’t be overlooked and needs to have a closer look because he does have the talent to play at the next level. The issue with Bell is how can he hold up playing at the highest level, because his Penn State career has been full of time missed due to injuries.

Bell missed a few games this season, but returned for the win against Ohio State. Since then, the Nittany Lions have been on a roll and Bell is a big reason for that. In the final game of the regular season against Michigan State, Bell was named the National FBS Defensive Player of the Week for a game where he finished with 18 tackles and a sack.

Nov 12, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement (6) during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 48-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

4. Corey Clement, RB — Wisconsin

Mid-round draft prospect Corey Clement averages 4.2 yards per carry in a season where he’s rushed for 1,140 yards. Clement also had 13 rushing touchdowns and averages 8.7 yards per reception, though he has just seven on the season.

This has become the breakout season for Clement, a senior, as Wisconsin is known for having some top running back prospects in their great history. Speaking of running the football, Clement has rushed for at least 100 yards in a game in six of the past seven games, including doing so in four-straight coming into the title game.

The streak began with 164 yards on 25 carries against Ohio State, followed by 134 yards the next week at Iowa. After a game with 82 yards, Clement has collected totals of 106, 123, 112 and 100 yards rushing. In Clement’s past four games, he has amassed seven touchdowns.

Clement was a backup for current San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon and, two years ago as a sophomore, still averaged 6.5 yards per carry in that role.

The first-team All-Big Ten selection will be drafted in April, and a solid game in a nationally televised game could make an impact on getting NFL fans to really see what type of running back Clement can be at the next level, because there is no doubt he’ll be playing on Sundays next year.

Sep 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Vince Biegel (47) fires up the crowd during the first quarter against the LSU Tigers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

3. Vince Biegel, OLB — Wisconsin

Now it is time to talk some defense again, and Wisconsin’s Vince Biegel enters this game as the ninth-ranked outside linebacker by CBS Sports, with the 6-4, 245-pound standout currently being a third- to fourth-round projected draft pick.

Biegel is going off two consecutive games with a sack, and in the regular season final vs. Minnesota, he finished with eight tackles and the aforementioned sack, his highest total of the season. Biegel had a chance to go pro last season, but he decided to stay for his senior year and it seems to have worked out for him.

Jason Galloway of the Wisconsin State Journal quoted the linebacker about how Biegel’s decision has worked out for the best:

“Coming back another year was good for me,” Biegel said. “Not just for the University of Wisconsin, but it was good for me, my development. I wanted to be a senior captain.”

That is something which could prove useful for NFL teams, a player who wants to work to improve and being a player who possesses true leadership skill as he wanted to be a captain for a team that produces quality football year-in and year-out.

Biegel might not be the best overall outside linebacker in the upcoming draft. But for the Big Ten Championship game, Biegel will be a player to watch and watch closely, because he’ll be drafted and your favorite team could be the ones who eventually select him.

Sep 17, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) runs with the ball while avoiding a tackle during the second quarter against the Temple Owls at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Temple 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

2. Chris Godwin, WR — Penn State

Maybe the second-most exciting player on the Penn State offense, Chris Godwin has been one of the leaders during Penn State’s winning streak of eight-straight games. Though not the most polished of the wide receivers, his play has improved this season and he should be very capable of playing at the next level.